Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Sunday vowed to eradicate corruption from the country within 90 days after coming into power and apologised to the people of Balochistan for the injustices they were subjected to by the successive rulers. Speaking at a grand public meeting in the vicinity of Mazar-e-Quaid, which he called a 'political tsunami, said his government would ensure rule of law in the country.
Tens of thousands of energetic PTI workers and supporters became more enthusiastic when Imran Khan emerged on rostrum, started chanting slogans in his favour as 'next Prime Minister Imran Khan' and waved party flags. The participants were carrying banners, placards and portraits of Imran Khan. Songs of all regional languages were played to keep the participants on their feet during the rally.
Imran was flanked by former foreign minister, Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Qureshi, former vice president of PML-N, Makhdoom Javed Hashmi, former federal minister for industries, Jahangir Khan Tareen, former Justice Wajih-ud-Din, former federal minister Azam Khan Swati, former foreign minister, Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri, President Women-Wing Fauzia Kasuri, former federal minister for IT Owais Laghari, Hamid Khan, Waheed Iqbal, Secretary General PTI, Dr Arif Alvi and a large number of party office-bearers from all the four provinces.
Imran vowed to give Balochistan a different status to develop and bring prosperity to the backward province. He also extended his apology to the people of Balochistan, saying that he would do justice to them and solve their outstanding key issues.
He said if PTI came into power it would deal with Balochistan's issues fairly and give the same treatment, which West Germany after the fall of Berlin Wall had given to East Germany.
Announcing his party's political road map to end lawlessness, corruption, unemployment, injustices, and introduce equal rights, good governance, agriculture reforms, quality education to all, healthcare facilities, and justice system at grassroots level, he said his party was committed to bringing the nation out from the current despair and eradicate corruption within the initial 90 days of its government.
He pledged to make Pakistan a welfare state where justice, education, healthcare facilities, employment would be provided to all citizens without discrimination.
He lamented that a rich person in the country was given a different treatment than the poor one and vowed to eradicate the discriminatory trend.
Warning the nation, he said a 'political mafia' did not want the country have an amicable justice system to treat the poor and rich on equal basis. He said his party after coming into power would establish a rural justice system to resolve people's problems, besides computerising the entire governance system to shut the doors of corruption for all. "About 80 percent of the rural population does not have access to justice," said the PTI chief.
Imran Khan appealed to the public to support him to implement the road map for the next government. He said without public support he could not bring his dream of change to make Pakistan an Islamic welfare state, which was envisioned by Father of the Nation Muhammad Ali Jinnah.
He announced that Jahangir Khan Tareen would head his party policy team, who would present party's policy papers every two months to the nation. He said the proposed team would also evolve policies on agriculture reforms, economic stability, labour issues, foreign affairs, local governance, reforms in taxation system and educational reforms.
He said a better taxation system would help the nation shun relying on foreign financial assistance. He also pledged to bring a better labour policy for the working class to help them manage their financial needs keeping in view the inflationary trend.
He said his government would also introduce policy to depoliticize the bureaucracy, besides ensuring a depoliticised police in the country. He said the farmers having below 10 acres of land would be provided free of cost seeds and low-cost electricity to increase the crops yields.
Imran Khan said his government would bring fresh investments in the country, besides encouraging and increasing the confidence of businessmen living aboard. He said though Pakistani businessmen wanted to invest in the country, the lawlessness and corruption daunted their will.
He said eradication of corruption was an easier task, but bringing educational reforms was a daunting and challenging job. However, he resolved to ensure a quality education system for all the citizens. "Pakistan losses Rs300 million due to corruption every day," he said.
Chairman PTI announced that his party would hold his next public meeting in Quetta, Balochistan on March 23. He said participants in Karachi's meeting outnumbered the Lahore rally, which, he said, was unbelievable.
When Shah Mehmood Qureshi was invited to address the public meeting, the crowd began raising the slogan of "Go Zardari Go." In his speech, Shah Mehmood said, "Pakistan is at the crossroad of change and new history is in the making."
He focused on Pakistan's nuclear programme, saying it was secure under impregnable security shields and pointed out at the internal threats making the nation vulnerable. "The entire nation is unanimous on Pakistan's nuclear programme," he said.
He said Pakistan's prime minister was 'naïve', who did not known the reality, adding that his government had threats from corruption not from any other.
Qureshi urged the public to elect the sincere and competent leadership in the next general elections to bring the country out of all financial and other problems.
He underlined the need of an independent judiciary in the country along with free media to ensure accountability and the democratic culture to flourish in the country.
Without naming anyone, he implicated the present and former presidents in betraying the country on key nuclear related issues. He said the incumbent president had assured the US through foreign secretary Riaz Muhammad Khan of not opposing the civil nuclear deal between it and India.
While the former president in 2008, he alleged, had also assured the US of signing an agreement with India to renounce the 'first nuclear strike' policy.
The crowd gave standing ovation to veteran politician Javed Hashmi when he was invited to address the meeting. Slogans were raised in his favour, which continued during his oration. He said he had great respect for PML-N leadership and party but not more than the people of the country. "Love for PML-N is still alive in my heart but the love of poor people is greater than that," he added.
He said Imran Khan's message was justice, which Quaid-e-Azam had given to the world. He observed the nation was divided on the basis of rich and poor. He said he had spent 40 years in politics and vowed to continue struggle against injustices in the country.
Hashmi said Karachi was the 'heart' of Pakistan, as its citizens had big hearts to accommodate people of all section of the society from across the country. He said Karachi had some 2.4 million Bengalis along with other ethnic groups including Urdu speaking (Muhajirs), Punjabi, Sindhi, Balochi and Pakhtuns.
Calling himself a 'rebel' he said he had joined PTI to fight against oppression and injustices. Khursheed Mehmood Kasuri, Azam Swati, Hamid Khan, former Justice Wajihuddin Ahmad, and other leaders also spoke on the occasion.